Ezekiel Awojide
The Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani, has not borrowed a Kobo since he assumed office and the 2026 budget will be financed without borrowing, the Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Mukhtar Ahmed, has clarified.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Sani, Malam Ibraheem Musa, the commissioner said that the 2026 budget would be financed by the state’s statutory allocations, Internally Generated Revenue, and grants.
The commissioner explained that the loans drawdown component of the budget had been misunderstood by a section of the media, so a clarification became necessary.
According to Ahmed, previous administrations had collected loans and the state has been drawing down from them, adding, ” but no new loans had been collected by Sani.
The commissioner explained that terminating the loan agreements prematurely would lead to penalties higher than the cost of interest repayments on servicing the loans.
He added, ‘’Despite immense financial pressures, the administration of Sani had continued to service the loan commitments for both principal and accrued interest negotiated and taken by the previous administration.
‘’The government will continue to serve the good people of Kaduna State with prudence and will be inclusive in providing development projects.
“No amount of lies and misleading information will distract the government from achieving this goal,’’ he promised.
Ahmed also commended the Governor for aligning the fiscal and calendar years, as the operation of the 2026 budget commenced on January 1.
Recall that Sani signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law on December 22, 2025, with education taking the largest share of 25 per cent of the state’s N985.9 billion budget.
Sani disclosed that ₦698.9 billion, representing 70.9 per cent of the budget, had been allocated to capital expenditure, targeting infrastructure development, economic expansion, and improved service delivery.
He also said that the recurrent expenditure stood at ₦287 billion, or 29.1 per cent, ensuring that essential government services continue to function efficiently and responsibly.
Providing a breakdown of the budget, the governor stated that education received 25 per cent of the budget, as they believed that knowledge was the most powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and securing the future of our children.
‘’ Infrastructure and rural transformation also account for 25 per cent, reflecting our determination to open up communities, connect markets, and stimulate economic activity across the state.
‘’ Health takes 15 per cent, affirming our conviction that a healthy population is the foundation of productivity and human dignity.
*Agriculture and food security receive 11.65 per cent, reinforcing our commitment to feeding our people, empowering farmers, and strengthening our local economy,’’ he disclosed.
Titled Budget of ‘’Consolidation Of Transformation For Inclusive Development,’’ N100 million was allocated to every ward in Kaduna State for community-driven projects, adding that the people would determine their priorities and drive development from the grassroots.
.
